Tool for removing and replacing threaded fasteners



Oct. 5, 1965 A. HUMAN 3,209,802

TOOL FOR REMOVING AND REPLACING THREADED FASTENERS Filed Aug. 30, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

Q 7 I 60 INVENTOR, 66 BY MHM A. HUMAN 3,209,802

TOOL FOR REMOVING AND REPLACING THREADED FASTENERS Oct. 5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 50, 1963 Fig. 2 3

Arfhur Human 1 N VENTOR.

mil ant...

United States Patent 3,209,802 TOOL FOR REMOVING AND REPLACING THREADED FASTENERS Arthur Human, 285 NW. 27th St., Miami, Fla. Filed Aug. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 305,639 3 Claims. (Cl. 14554) This invention relates to a novel and useful tool for removing and replacing threaded fasteners and more specifically to a screwdriver-type of implement including a handgrip assembly provided with one portion movable relative to another portion and adapted to be squeezed to cause intermittent movement of the two portions of the handgrip toward and away from each other. The tool includes a rotatable tool supporting shank or shaft which is driven from one of the movable portions of the handgrip by means of a ratchet mechanism for intermittently rotating the shaft in response to reciprocation of the two portions of the handgrip toward and away from each other. The ratchet mechanism is reversible and accordingly it may be adjusted so as to effect rotation of the shaft in the desired direction.

In addition, the two handgrip portions of the tool project laterally outwardly to one side of the shaft of the tool and thereby comprise a lever-type handle for applying more torque to the shaft of the tool then could be manually caused to be effective thereon by squeezing the two movable portions of the grip together.

The main object of this invention is to provide a tool for removing and replacing threaded fasteners which may be readily held and operated by one hand.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a tool of the ratcheting type which may be utilized to both remove and replace threaded fasteners.

Another object of this invention is to provide the tool with a mechanically simple and durable ratcheting mechanism.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a tool in accordance with the preceding objects including a rotatable shank which may be engaged with a threaded fastener in order to rotate the latter and fronrwhich is laterally directed handle portion projects, the handle portion being operable as a lever to apply torque to the shaft or shank.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a tool in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device to be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the tool of the instant invention shown with a Phillips screwdriver shank operatively associated therewith;

FIGURES 2 and 4 are fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional views of the tool taken substantially upon a plane passing through the longitudinal center line of the ratcheting mechanism of the tool and with the ratcheting mechanism shown in different positions of operation;

FIGURES 3 and 5 are fragmentary transverse vertical sectional views taken substantially upon planes designated by the section lines 3-3 and 5-5 of FIGURES 2 and 4, respectively;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view 3,299,802 Patented Oct. 5, 1965 taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 77 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane of section line I88 of FIG- URE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the rear end of the screw shaft of the tool showing the manner in which it is rotatably journaled from one of the handle portions of the tool;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the mounting sleeve by which the ratcheting mechanism of the tool is supported from the other handle portion.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates the tool of the instant invention which may be seen to include a pair of elongated handgrip portions 12 and 14. The handgrip portions 12 and 14 are interconnected at lower ends by means of a link 16 which is pivotally secured to the handgrip portions 12 and 14 by means of pivot pins 18 and 20 secured through the lower ends of the handgrip portions 12 and 14 and the opposite ends of the link 16. An elongated leaf spring 22 has its opposite ends secured to the handgrip portions 12 and 14 by means of fasteners 24 and 26 and functions to yieldingly urge the upper ends of the handgrip portions 12 and 14 away from each other.

The upper end of the handgrip portion 14 has a pair of journal arms 28 and 30 secured thereto in any convenient manner such as by fasteners 32 and these arms 28 and 30 define the furcations of bifurcated upper end of the handgrip portion 14.

A journal assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 34 includes a generally cylindrical case 36 and is rotatably supported between the upper ends of the arms 28 and 30 by means of pivot pins 38. The cylindrical case 36 is internally threaded at one end as at 40 and provided with a partial annular end wall 42 at the other end. A centrally apertured end plate 44 is secured in the internally threaded end of the case 36 and an annular abutment disc 48 abuts against the inner sur face of the partial end wall 42. A pair of bearing races 50 and 52 are provided and have a plurality of ball bearings 54 disposed therebetween. The races 50 and 52 are disposed between the annular abutment disc 48 and the end wall 44. A headed fastener is provided and secured through the race 52 and in an internally threaded bore 56 formed in the end of a rachet screw shaft 58 which is rotatably journaled by means of the journal assembly 34. The ratchet screw shaft 58 is conventional in design and includes two sets of threads having opposite pitch.

The upper end of the handgrip portion 12 defines a split journal including a base section 60 and a removable section 62 which is secured to the former by means of suitable fasteners 64. A mounting sleeve 66 which can best be seen in FIGURE 10 of the drawings is clampingly engaged between the sections 60 and 62 and is therefore fixed in position relative to the split journal.

A diametrically reduced end 68 of a cage sleeve 70 is telescopingly and rotatably received in the mounting sleeve 66 and includes internal threads as at 72 with which an externally threaded retaining nut 74 is threadedly engaged.

The cage sleeve 70 includes a circumferential slot 76 in which the arcuate base end 78 of a spacer element 80 is received. The spacer element 80 projects inwardly of the inner walls of the cage sleeve 70 and between a pair of sleeves 82 and 84 which are threadedly engaged with the shaft 58 for inverse oscillation relative to actual reciprocation of the shaft 58 relative thereto. The sleeves 82 and 84 are held captive between the confronting ends of the cage sleeve and retaining nut 74 and therefore rotate inversely in response to reciprocation of the shaft 58 through the mounting sleeve 66.

It may be seen from FIGURE 6 of the drawings that the adjacent ends of the sleeves 82 and 84 include circumferential teeth 82' and 84, respectively. The teeth 82' and 84 open in opposite directions of rotation of the sleeves 82 and 84 and the cage sleeve has a pair of circumferential slots 88 and 90 formed therein adjacent its opposite ends and which are interconnected by means of a longitudinal slot 92.

A pair of detent members 94 and 96 are provided and are T-shaped in plan including base legs 98 and 100 and cross legs 102 and 104, respectively. The base legs 98 and 100 are received in the opposite ends of the slot 92 and the cross legs 102 and 104 are received in the circumferential slots 88 and 90, respectively. In addition, it may be seen that the detent members 94 and 96 include base leg extensions 106 and 108, respectively.

From FIGURE 7 of the drawings it may be seen that the end walls of the circumferential slots 88 and 90 are oppositely annularly inclined relative to the longitudinal center axis of the cage sleeve 70 and from FIG- URES 25 of the drawings it may be seen that a leaf spring 110 is provided and held captive within a longitudinal slot 112 formed in the cage sleeve 70. The spring 110 includes an outwardly projecting knob or pin 114 at its midportion and the pin 114 is slidably received in the actuator slot 116 formed in the mounting sleeve 66.

From a comparison, FIGURES 2 and 4 of the drawings, it may be seen by longitudinally shifting the arcuate spring 110 between the positions illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings by rotating the cage sleeve 70, the end portions of the arcuate spring 110 will cause the detent members 96 and 98 to be alternatingly cammed out of engagement with the teeth 82' and 84, respectively, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4 of the drawings. In this manner, a selected one of the detent members 94 and 96 may be shifted from an inactive position to an active position engaging the corresponding teeth formed on the corresponding sleeve. Therefore, while the other sleeve will be free to rotate in any direction relative to the cage sleeve 70 and the sleeve with which the other detent member is associated will allow rotation of that sleeve in one direction relative to the cage sleeve 70, rotation of that sleeve in the opposite direction relative to the cage sleeve will be prevented and therefore longitudinal shifting of the shaft 58 through the ratchet means defined by the assembly enclosed in the mounting sleeve 66 will cause the shaft 58 to rotate about its longitudinal axis. In this manner, the Phillips screwdriver shank 120 secured in the chuck 122 carried by the forward end of the shaft 58 will be intermittently rotated in response to oscillatory swinging movement of the handgrip portion 12 relative to the handgrip portion 14.

If it is desired to intermittently rotate the shaft 58 in the opposite direction, the cage sleeve 70 may be rotated so as to longitudinally shift the spring 110 to its other limit position thereby reversing the active and inactive positions of the detent members 94 and 96.

It is to be noted that the handgrip portion 12 may be swung to a position closely adjacent and generally paralleling the handgrip portion 14 when the fastener with which the shank 120 is engaged strongly resist rotational movement. Then, the two handgrip portions 12 and 14 may be utilized as a laterally directed lever for the shaft 58 inasmuch as the shaft 58 will be locked for rotation with the handgrip portions 12 and 14 when the handgrip portion 12 is held stationary relative to the handgrip portion 14.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A tool for removing and replacing threaded fasteners, said tool comprising a pair of elongated handgrip portions including corresponding first and second ends, means interconnecting the first ends of said handgrip portions for swinging movement of the second ends thereof toward and away from each other, a ratchet screw shaft including two sets of threads of opposite pitch, means rotatably journaling one end portion of said shaft from a second end of one of said handgrip portions and against axial shifting relative thereto and reversible ratchet assembly rigidly carried by the second end of the other handgrip portion journaling the other end portion of said shaft therefrom and operatively selectively engageable with said threads for intermittently rotating said shaft in selected directions of rotation in response to axial reciprocation of said ratchet means therealong, said means rotatably journaling said one end portion of said shaft from said second end of said one handgrip portion comprising bearing means pivotally secured to said one handgrip portion for rotation about an axis extending transversely of said one handgrip portion and the axis of rotation of said shaft, said means interconnecting said first ends of said handgrip portions comprising an elongated link having its opposite end portions pivotally secured to the first ends of said handgrip portions for rotation about generally parallel axes extending transversely of said link, said handgrip portions and the axis of rotation of said shaft.

2. The combination of claim 1 including means interconnected between said handgrip portions normally yieldingly urging said second ends apart.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the last mentioned means comprises a generally U-shaped leaf spring secured to said first ends at the free ends of its leg portions and with the bight portions of said spring embracing the terminal ends of said first ends and said link.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,118,250 11/14 Wilder l4554 2,301,413 11/42 Kilcup. 3,049,018 8/62 Lusskin -53 X WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner,

MILTON S. MEHR, Examiner. 

1. A TOOL FOR REMOVING AND REPLACING THREADED FASTENERS, SAID TOOL COMPRISING A PAIR OF ELONGATED HANDGRIP PORTIONS INCLUDING CORRESPONDING FIRST AND SECOND ENDS, MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE FIRST ENDS OF SAID HANDRIP PORTIONS FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT OF THE SECOND ENDS THEREOF TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, A RATCHET SCREW SHAFT INCLUIDNG TW SETS OF THREADS OF OPPOSITE PITCH, MEANS ROTATABLY JOURNALING ONE END PORTION OF SAID SHAFT FROM A SECOND END OF ONE OF SAID HANDGRIP PORTIONS AND AGAINST AXIAL SHIFTING RELATIVE THERETO AND REVERSIBLE RATCHET ASSEMBLY RIGIDLY CARRIED BY THE SECOND END OF THE OTHER HANDGRIP PORTION JOURNALING THE OTHER END PORTION OF SAID SHAFT THEREFROM AND OPERATIVELY SELECTIVELY ROTATING SAID SHAFT IN SAID THREADS FOR INTERMITTENTLY ROTATING SAID SHAFT IN SELECTED DIRECTIONS OF ROTATION IN RESPONSE TO AXIAL RECIPROCATION OF SAID RATCHET MEANS THEREALONG, SAID MEANS ROTATABLY JOURNALING SAID ONE END PORTION OF SAID SHAFT FROM SAID SECOND END OF SAID ONE HANDGRIP PORTION COMPRISING BEARING MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID ONE HANDGRIP PORTION FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID ONE HANDGRIP PORTION AND THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT, SAID MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID FIRST ENDS OF SAID HANDGRIP PORTIONS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED LINK HAVING ITS OPPOSITE END PORTIONS PIVOTALLY SECURED TO THE IRST ENDS OF SAID HANDGRIP PORTIONS FOR ROTATION ABOUT GENERALLY PARALLEL AXES EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID LINK, SAID HANDGRIP PORTIONS AND THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT. 